Hazare accepts Tewari's written apology

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Wednesday tendered a written apology to Anna Hazare for accusing him of being corrupt, Hazare's lawyer said, and added the anti-corruption crusader has asked him to now close the matter.

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Wednesday tendered a written apology to Anna Hazare for accusing him of being corrupt, Hazare's lawyer said, and added the anti-corruption crusader has asked him to now close the matter.

Hazare's lawyer Milind Pawar had slapped Tewari with a legal notice for defamation on September 8.

"Tewari said that Annaji is involved in corruption from top to bottom Aug 14, two days before Annaji started his fast against corruption," Pawar told IANS.

"However, in the wake of the written apology by Tewari, Annaji has asked me to close the matter," he added.

Tewari, in his written communication addressed to Hazare, said that he had already expressed his regrets Aug 25 and had urged Hazare to end his fast at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

"I do not stand on any prestige or ego, especially when it comes to giving due regard and respect to people elder to me in age. In all sincerity, I reiterate my regrets," Tewari said in the letter.

"I do not wish to give legal responses or want this matter to be prolonged. I hope you would treat the matter as closed," he added.